Fire door



H. VISSERING5 FIRE DOOR. .APPLICATION FILED OCT-16,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET L Patented Jim. 31, 1922.

H. VISSERING.

FIRE DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-16,1916.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. VISSERING FIRE DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-16,1916- 1,105, 172, V Patented Jan. 3], 1922.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3 H. VISSERING.

FIRE DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 16, 1916- 1,405,172, r Patented Jan. 31, 1-922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

inueidfor W H. VISSERING.

FIRE DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-16.1916.-

1, 72. Patented Jan. 3 "1922;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ru/erpzfori Mime/.5566.

aren't OFFICE.

HARRY VISSERING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

FIRE DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922'.

Application filed. October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,853.

an improved fire door for the fire boxes of boilers, especially boilers of railway locomotives.

The principal objects of my present invention are the provision of an improved class of structure of the character referred to which is not only simple and relatively inex pensive in manufacture, but also of a compact construction to the end that it may extend at a minimum distance into the locomotive c'ab, thereby economizing space; the provision of a door structure thus characterized which not only avoids narrowing the opening into the fire box, but also gives maximum clearance for the introduction of fuel into, and the spreading of such fuel laterally within, the fire box; the provision of a fire door structure presenting a minimum of tunnel-like effect; thereby permitting the fireman to come close up to the fire box and to manipulate his shovel freely within the fire box and spread the fuel as may be desired; the provision of an improved form of fire box door so shaped as to act as a deflector to force inrushing air down onto the fire and thereby not only aid in combustion, but also prevent an uprising draft tending to draw the fire against the front of the fire box; the provision of an improved mounting for fire box doors whereby the door thereof may be not only manually or pedally operated, but is also so counter-poised as to be operable by atmospheric pressure upon the production of a partial vacuum within the fire box, thereby breaking the vacuum and restoring the pressure within the fire box to substantially that of the atmosphere, and so avoiding the drawing of the fire against the front of the fire box; the provision of a door so constructed that it may be operable at will, manually, pedally, or by the atmospheric pressure outside the furnace as the result of a partial vacuum within the furnace, and further operable manually without interference with or by the pedal mechanism, and. operable pedally without movement of the manual operating means; the provision of improved quick-opening and slow-closing valve mechanism for doors; the provision of an improved manuahdoor-operating mechanism and quadrant construction cooperating therewith; together with such further objects as may hereinafter appear;

In attaining the foregoing objects, together with certain additional benefits and advantages to be below disclosed, I have pro-. F

vided a construction one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing 'wherein Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a fire door construction and housing therefor embodying my present improvements, the door being shown in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, the door being shown in open position;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the door of Figures 1 and 2, viewing it from the left of the position shown in such figures;

Figure l is an enlarged central sectional view of the structure of Figures 1 and 2, the door being shown in full lines in its full closed position and in dotted lines in its full open position; i I

Figure 5' is a plan view of the structure of Figure 1, looking at it from above; I

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, a side elevational View and a vertical sectional view of a detail of the construction which is shown in a plan view in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a detailof construction which is shown in Figure 5, being taken on line 8-8 thereof; and

Figure 9 is an elevational View of another detail of the construction which is shown in Figure 1. l

As will be noted on referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, in carrying" out my invention and embodying it in a preferred" form in a fire-box door construction, I employ a framing 10 which may be attached adjacent to the opening of the fire box by means of a plurality of bolts 11 engaging slots 12 in the framing 10." The framing 10 forms a housing of a general D shape for the door 16, and viewed from its'fro-ntal aspect includes an inwardly turned, lower or sill portion13 (see Figure 2) resting upon the margin of the mud ring of the firebox opening, an upper canopy portion 14 (see Figure 5) and forwardly projecting side wall portions 15, 15 connecting the por tions 13 and 14. For closing the opening formed by the members 13, 1 1 and 15 a door 16 is pivoted adjacent the upper portions of the members 15 upon a pintle 17 passing through bosses 18, 18 in the door and mount ed in bearings 19, 19 in the side frame members 15, 15, and secured in position by cotter-pins 17 As will be seen on examination and comparison of Figures 2 and 1, the door 16 is of a parti-cylindrical form having lateral extensions or wings 50, 50 cooperating with complementary portions 15,15 of the housing construction for a purpose to be hereinafter specified.

The door is provided for operation by three-fold independently acting means, that is, manual, pedal and gravity.

F or the manual operation of the door a lever 20, having an extension 21 mounted on said pintle 1?, is employed. The lever 20 is provided with a pair of depending ears 22 (one of which may be seen in Figure adapted to abut against upstanding lugs 2 1- formed on the upper portion of the door 16, and thereby open the door when the handle of the lever 20 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure The pedal-operated means comprise a cylinder 25 secured to the canopy 1 1 by means of bolts 25*, such cylinder having disposed thereina piston 26 engaging bifurcated portions 28, 28 formed at the upper right hand corner of the door 16 by means of a connecting rod 27, and a pivot pin. 29. For operat ing the piston 26 air supplied through a pipe 80 connected to a source of fluid pressure (not shown) by the pipe '"0 is utilized. For controlling the admission of i he fluid pressure to the pipe 30 a pressure reducing valve 81 is employed. This pressure reduc ing valve may be of any preferred type to which air may be admitted by means of a piston valve The casings of the valves 31 and 32 are preferably unitary and supported by means of an integral bracket 33 which is secured to the lower, left-hand portion. of the framing. The piston of the valve 32 is operable by means of a treadle 341 at one end of a lever the said lever being pivoted at 36 in an extension 37 of the'bracket 33, the other end 38 of the lover being adapted to act against the projecting end 39 of the piston of the val vc 32.

In the operation of the device just described, the air passes through the pipe 30, connection 5O passage 13, past the check valve 42 and through passage 4a into the piston chamber 40. hen the operators foot is removed from the treadle 3 1 a spring 72 in the valve 32 moves the piston 73 of the valve downward thereby raising the treadle 3 1 and at the same time cutting off the air supply and placing the pipe 30 in communication with the atmosphere through the orifice 71. As soon as air ceases to [low from the pipe 30 into the piston chamber the check valve 12 closes. Then the pressure in the pipe 30 drops to atmospheric by exhausting air through the orifice 71 and simultaneously air flows through the passage 44; and by-pass 41 into the pipe 30. Owing to the restricted size of the by-pass the air cannot escape rapidly so that the door closes gradually under its own weight and is cushioned against slamming.

It will be noted that in order to facilitate the gravity operation of the door 16 the chamber 10 behind the piston 26 is at all times in communication with the pipe 30 through the bypass port 1-1, and inasmuch as the door 16 is loosely mounted on the pintle 17, obviously any suction within the fire box sufiicient to overcome the Weight of the door 16 will tend to open the door and thereby tend to equalize the pressure within the fire box to that of the atmosphere, and thereby prevent drawing the fire back against the front sheet of the fire box.

From the foregoing description'it will be :u ipreciated that the door 16 may be operated through the treadle 34 without moving the lever 20. On the other hand, operation of the door through the lever 20 is in nowise retarded by the pedal operated mechanism above described.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be observed that whereas when the door is in the position shown in Figure 1 the opening in the framing 10 is quite fully closed, that on the other hand, when the. door iSl moved to full open position, as shown in Figure 2, it offers substantially no impediment to the introduction of fuel into the fire box, and furthermore additionally acts as a deflector tending to direct the inrushing airv down upon the fire, thereby aiding combustion.

By virtue of the fact that the door 16 is cut away, each side forming wings, indicated at 50, 50, the lower portion 16 of the door is not in the least restrained from projecting into the fire box. The'form of con struc on just referred to further permits.

the bringing of the door 16 and its housing quite closely upagainst the end of the fire box, thus economizing space, which is highly desirable in locomotive practice since the cut away portions permit full opening of the door for the introduction of fuel. On the other hand, by virtue of the fact that I dispose the side frame members 15, 15 well to the sides of the opening into the fire box, .it will be observed that the minimum of impediment to the introduction of fuel into the fire box and spreading laterally therein is caused by my construction. The lateral portions 15*, 15 of the side frame members 15, 15 are also sloped downwardly and inwardly, as indicated in Figure 4:, in order to give further cleara ce for the shovel of the fireman. I

lleferrin' now to Figures (3 and 7, in order to facilitate the construction, and from time to time the replacement of worn quadrants, or substitution of other forms thereof, having different arrangements of the teeth 56, the upper portion 14 of the framing is thickened behind the location of. the hand lever in order to afford a bearing for the base 53 of the quadrant 51. This bearing is preferably in the form of a dovetailed out, as indicated at 52, the base of the quadrant resting against an abutment 54, and being restrained from accidental misplacement by means of a cotter-pin 55 restingagainst the shoulders 56 of the thickened portion i l of the canopy 141'.- The form of quadrant shown has but three teeth adapted for engagement by a dog 5? pivoted at 58 in the lever 20 and operable by the trigger 59 pivoted at 5t in the lever 20 andhaving a bifurcated portion 50 engaging a stud 60 on the dog 57, but in certain cases it may be desired to use quadrants having a. larger number of teeth.

its will be seen on inspection of the draw ings, Figures 1 and 4;, the moimtings for the pintle 17 are quite heavy and the lower end 61 of the door 16 is below the highest point of the downwardly turned sill 13. These facts, taken in connection with the use of a relatively heavy steel rod for the pintle l7, pl'GYQllt the door from being blown outwardly or off its pivots unless an explosion within the fire box should be s'u'llicient practically to destroy the entire door structure.

In order to insure prompt closing of the door in the event of an explosion or blow-out aking place within the fire box while the door 16 is being held in open position by means of the mechanismcarried by the hand lever 20, and to avoid the necessity of manual nninipulation of such lever 20, I preferably employ a frangible element, which end may conveniently be attained by forming the lugs 2-1; with grooves 2% so that in the event of an extreme pressure coming onto the door 16 at uch time, such lugs 24- will break off, ther allowing the door to drop and close the opening in the framing. v

(in examination. of Figure 1 it will be observed that the handle 20 is provided with projections 62, 62 extending over the lugs 9d, and on examination of Figure 4 it will further be seen that the door 16 is pro vided with a skirting 63 filling the space between the axle 17 and the canopy 14, both of which features of construction are provided as guards to prevent maiming the hands of. a bystander in case the door 16 should suddenly orunexpectedly open.

v As will be seen on comparison of Figures 1 and 2 on the one h and, and Figure el on the other hand, it is desirable that the projec tions 15 of the framing extend laterally inwardly, and the wings 50 of'the door extend laterally outwardly, beginning at a line passing through substantially the center of the opening of the fire box, in order to at tain simultaneously the most compact structure consistent with the widest possible opening into the fire box when the door is in full open position, and the minimum of interference with the shovel of the fireman, since if the line of contact between said projections 15 and said wings 50 were lowered, it would be necessary to extend the housing farther away from the fire boxand out into the cab, and if, on the other hand, such line of contact were raised in order to give a more compact structure, there wouldbe a consequent substantial narrowing of the opening into the fire box, thereby presenting a material interference with the use of the shovel by the fireman in his endeavors to spread the fuel laterally within the fire box.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 18 1 A fire box door construction comprising, in combination, a framing provided with an opening adapted to coact' with an opening in a fire-box whereby fuel may be introduced into a fire box, and afdoor arranged for normally substantially closing the passage formed by said openings, the said door having substantially flat portions and also a portion of substantially particylindrical ioi'ni'on its under-surface when in open position, and so arranged relatively to said fire-box openingthat it may act as a deflector to'direct inrushing air clownwardly toward the fire in the fire box, said flat portions extending laterally from either side of said particy1indrical portion.

.2. A. fire box door construction comprising, in combination, a framing provided vith an opening adapted to co-act with an opening in a firebox whereby fuel may be introducedinto a fire box, and a door arranged for normally substantially closing the passage formed. by said openings, the said door havinga central portion of substantially parti-cylindrical form on its under-surface when in open position, and so arranged relatively to said fire-box opening that it may act as a deflector to direct in rushing air downwardly toward the fire in the fire box. and the said framing and door haying cooperating projections extending respectively laterally toward the center of said framing opening and away therefrom, whereby when said door is in closed position said framing opening is substantially closed, and whereby when said door is in open position it presents a minimum of vobstruction to the introeuction of fuel into the fire box.

3, A fire box door construction comprise ing, in com bination, a fire-oox provided with an openin a framing co-acting therewith provided with an opening whereby fuel may be introduced into the fire box, and a door arranged for normally substantially closing said opening in said framing, the said door being so arranged relatively to said opening that it may extend into said fire box opening and act as a deflector to direct inrushing air downwardly toward the fire in the fire box, and the said framing and door having cooperating projections extending respect vely laterally toward the center of said fr ning opening and away therefrom, the distance between the outer edges of the projections of said door being greater than the width of the framing opening in said fire box, whereby when said door is in closed position the said framing opening is substantially closed, and whereby when the said door is in open position it presents a minimum of obstruction to the introduction of fuel into the box. I

i. A fire box door construction, comprising in combination, a fire box provided with an opening, a framing co-acting therewith provided with an opening whereby fuel may be introduced into the fire box, and a door arranged for normally substantially closing said opening in said framin and the said framing and door having cooperatingprojections extending respectively laterally toward the center of said framing opening and away therefrom, the distance between the outer edges of the projections of said door being greater than the width of the opening in said. fire box, whereby when said door is in closed position said framing opening is substantially closed, and whereby when said door is in open position it presents a minimum of obstruction to the introduction of fuel into the fire box.

5. In a fire box door construction, the combination with a framing rovided with an opening adapted to co-act with an openingin a fire-box whereby fuel may be introduced into a fire box, and a door arranged for normally substantially closing said framing opening, of a door-operating mechanism for rapidly opening and slowly closing said door comprising a fluid pressure 0p erated mechanism including a valve device adapted to allow fluid to flow rapidly thereinto and flow slowly therefrom for controlling the introduction and discharge of fiuid thereinto, whereby the door may be rapidly moved in opening, but in closing is cushioned against slamming, and an independent pedal operated device for admitting fluid pressure to the valve device.

6. In a fire box door construction, the combination with a framing provided with an opening adapted to co-act with an opening in a fire-box whereby fuel may be introduced into a fire box, and a door arranged for normally substantially closing" said framing opening, of a door-operating mechanism for rapidly opening and slowly closing said door comprising a fluid pressure operated mechanism including a device adapted to allow fluid to flow rapidly thereinto and flow slowly therefrom for control ling the introduction and discharge of fluid thereinto, whereby the door may be rapidly moved in opening, but in closing is cush ioned against slamming, and an independent pedal-operated device for admitting fluid pressure to said valve device, the door being movable relatively to the framing without substantial mov ment of said pedal.

7. In a fire box door construction, the combination with a framing provided with an opening ad pted to co-act with an opening in a fire-box for introducing fuel into a fire box, and a door for normally substantially closing said framing opening, of an operating lever for opening said door, the said lever being mounted relatively to said framing and adapted to open said door when moved in one direction and said. door being movable relatively to said lever when the door is moved from its closed position, the said lever being provided with skirting projecting over that part of the door with which the lever contacts when said lever is employed for opening the door.

8. A fire box door construction comprising, in combination, a housing provided with an opening adapted to co-act with an opening in a fire-box whereby fuel may be introduced into a fire box, a door for normally substantially closing said framing opening, and a pintle for supporting said door in pivotal relation to said housing, the door being provided with a skirt projecting between said pintle and the wall of said housing and moving with the door for filling the interstice therebetween.

9. In a fire box door construction, the combination with a framing provided with an opening adapted to co-act with an opening in a firebox for introducing fuel into a fire box, and a door substantially normally closing said framing opening, of an operating means for opening said door, and a frangible element between said means and said door, arranged and adapted to transmit motion from the operating means to the door, the said means being pivotally mounted relatively to said framing and adapted to open the door when moved in one direction, and the said frangible element being adapted for breakage by the door when the door is violently moved in the opposite direction against the normal resistance of said means.

10. In a fire box door construction, the combination with a framing provided with an opening adapted to co-act with an openingin a fire-box for introducing fuel into a fire box, and a door substantially normally moved in one direction, and the said trail gible element being adapted for broal by the door when the door is violently mo. id in the opposite direction against the normal resistance of said lever.

11. A fire box door construction comprisi ng, in combination, a fire box provided with an opening, a framing adapted to co-act therewith and havingan opening in said irarning whereby fuel may be introduced into the fire box, and a door arranged for normally closing said opening in said training, said framing opening having lateral extensions adjacent its horizontal center line and said door having laterally extending: portions adapted to close said lateral exten- 'sions oi? said framing opening when said door is in its closed position, the distance between the outer edges of the projections of said door being greater than the width of the opening in said fire box.

12. A fire box door construction comprising, in combination, a fire box provided with an opening, a framing, adapted to co-act therewith and having an opening in said framing whereby fuel may be introduced into the fire box, and a door arranged for.

normally closing said opening in said traming, said framing opening having lat extensions adjacent its horizontal center li e and said door being of substantially parti cylindrical form on its under-surface when in open position and having laterally ex tending portions adapted to close said lateral extensions oi said framing opening when said door is in its closed position, the distance between the outer edges of the projections oi said door being greater than the width of the opening in said fire box.

13. A fire box door construction comprising, in combination with a fire box wall having an aperture therein, a housing attached to but projecting away from the fire box wall and having an aperture therein, all adapted to co-act with the aperture in said wall, and a door in said housing for closing said housing aperture but adapted to swing to "ards the fire box in opening and being pivotally attached to the upper part of the housing at a distance away from said fire box wall, the upper part of said door and of the apertures closed thereby being considerably wider than the aperture in said fire box wall.

14. A fire box door construction comprising in combination with a fire box wall having an aperture therein, a housing attached to but projecting away from the fire box wall and having an aperture therein, all

adapted to co-act with the aperture in said wall, and a door insaid housing for closing said housing aperture but adapted to swing towards the fire box in opening and being pivotally attached to the upper iart of the housing at a distance away from said fire box wall, the upper part of said door and of the aperture closed thereby being considerably wider than the aperture in said fire box wall.

15. A fire box door construction compris ing in combination with a fire box wall hav; ing an aperture therein, a housing attached to but projecting away from thefire box wall and having an aperture therein, all adapted to co-act with the aperture in said wall, and a door in said housing for closing said housing aperture but adapted to swing towards the fire box in opening, a pivot for said door attached to the upper part of the housing at a distance away from said fire box wall, the aperture in said housing having lateral extensions in the upper part thereof,

and said door havinglateral extensions e.'.-- tending from said pivot downwardly for a length not greater than the distance between said pivot and said fire box wall, adapted to close said lateral extensions of said housing aperture when the door is in its closed position whereby a greater range of move housing for closingsaid housing aperture but adapted to swing towards the fire box in opening, a pivot for said door attached to the upper part of the housing at a distance away from said fire box wall, and said door having a lower part of substantially particylindrical form adapted to enter the aperture in said fire box wall and an upper part wider than said fire-box wall aperture adapted to move in the space between said pivot and said fire box when said door is swung open, and being adapted to close said widened portionof said housing aperture when the door is in its closed position whereby a greater range of movement is obtainable within the aperture in the housing than within the aperture in the fire box wall.

17. A fire box door construction comprising in combination with a fire box wall havingan aperturetherein, a housing attached to but projecting away from the fire box wall, and, having an aperture therein, all adapted to co-aot with the aperture in said wall, the aperture in said housing having lateral extween said pivot she said fire box when said door is swung open, and adapted to close said lateral extensions of said housing aperture when the door is in closed position whereby a greater range of movement is ob tainable within the aperture in the housing than within the aperture in the fire box wall.

18. A fire box door construction comprising in combination with a fire box wall hav- 7 ing an aperture therein, a housing attached to but projecting away from the fire box wall and having an aperture therein, all adapted to co-act with the aperture in said wall, the upper part of said housing aperture being wider than the lower part, and a door in said housing adapted for closing said housing aperture and adapted to swing towards the fire box inopening, a pivot for said door attached to the upper end of the housing at a distance away from said fire box wall, and said door having a lower part adapted to enter the aperture in said fire box wall and an npoer part wider than said last mentioned aperture adapted to move'in the space between said pivot and said fire box when said door is swung open and further adapted to close said widened portion of said housing aperture when the door is in its closed position, whereby a greater range of movement is obtainable within the aperture in the housing than within the aperture in the fire box wall.

19. A fire box door construction comprising in combination with a'fire box wall having an inlet passage leading to and through said wall, a door support disposed away from the inner surface of said fire box wall, and a door adapted to interrupt said inlet passage in one position,and to swing towards the fire box wall in opening said passage and being pivotally attached at its upper vart to the sald support at a distance away from said inner surface, the upper part of said door being considerably wider than the opening in the inner surface of the fire box wall.

20. A fire box door construction comprising in combination with a fire box wall having an inlet passage leading to and through said wall, a door support disposed away "from the inner surface of said fire box wall,

and a door adapted to interrupt said inlet upper part 01. the aperture at a distancefrom said fire box wall, and said door having a lower part adapted to enter the aper ture in said fire box wall and an upper part wider than the said last mentioned aperture adapted to move in the space between said pivot and said fire box when said door is swung open, and further adapted to close said space when the door is in its closed position, whereby a greater range of move ment is obtainable externally of the aperture in the fire box wall than within said aperture. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY VISSERING, l/Vitnesses:

PAUL CARPENTER, WIL IAM GoLnBnRGER. 

